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JCW MINI Makes the List

Auto Express has assembled a list of what they think the top-20 performance cars of 2008 are. And there, right between the Porsche Cayman S and the BMW M3 Coupe is the JCW MINI Cooper S in third place.

In the end, the MINI’s feisty character is all part of its appeal – it’s a car you grab by the scruff of the neck, hold on and enjoy! And it’s even more fun on the public road. When you’re not pushing so hard, the front wheels scrabble for grip less often and the car’s agility really comes into its own. Only the sheer brilliance of the top two models prevents the JCW from taking the crown.

They even have video and it starts when you open the page. Consider yourself warned.

[ Performance Car of the Year - JCW MINI ] Autoexpress.co.uk

JonPD Oct 24th, 2008 Link

Good results for Mini indeed, think I disagree with them more than a couple times but oh well.

Two things came to mind watching the videos

The Stig is in my threat of being replaced by any of the drivers, the M3 video looks like their biggest wish was to drift the car versus driving it.
The in-car video of the JCW talking about the merits of the e-diff over the lack of one on the previous R53. Makes on wonder if Autoexpress ever noticed the LSD in the R53.

Still lots of fun watching the cars around a track.

greg Oct 24th, 2008 Link

I finally drove two different factory JCWs. Both with stock suspension (WTF! It sucks!). Would love to drive one with sport or even JCW set up.

Fast, but faster than the $2k dealer JCW? Don’t know as it’s been months since I sold mine.

Don’t think it’s a bad value when all is considered (wheels are terrific) but not including sport suspension and not engraving the tail pipes (??????) stick in my craw.

If the refresh adds some decent tweeks and the midnight black looks good I may give it a shot.

BTW, when is someone going to post a REAL 0-60 time? 6.5 seconds? Yeah right. More like 5.5!

robble Oct 24th, 2008 Link

I love the MINI but it came in ahead of the m3?

that.cool.guy Oct 24th, 2008 Link

Must have had the JCW suspension.

rs Oct 24th, 2008 Link

robbie, have you driven an M3? Maybe the Mini is more fun to drive? You can have a fast car but if it offers no driver feedback or gives you a satisfying sensation, is it better? I wish I could drive someone’s M…to really find out.

greg Oct 24th, 2008 Link

Sold an ‘06 Cayman S to get back into a Mini. All I could think for the year I owned it was how much I missed my JCW. Glad to be back and I’d do mit again in a second.

Drove the new super charged 60th anniversery edition Elise. Very cool but I wouldn’t trade my ‘08 JCW cabrio for it.

Are those “better” cars? Depends on your perspective. I’ve never had a car I enjoyed so much as the cabrio. And I get 10x as many comments on it as I did the Porsche.

mini_cindy Oct 24th, 2008 Link

greg, if you like he cabrio, you should try the coupe. Hundreds of pounds lighter, stiffer, you an take it to the track as is, and you can actually see out the rear.

Revhed Oct 26th, 2008 Link

It’s nice to see this result, but this is Autoexpress… probably the least ‘credible’ of the British car mags

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JCW MINI Makes the List

Sections: Awards | JCW | R56 (Coupe) | Video Oct 24th, 2008 8 Comments

Written By: DB